Dave Rudden draws on Irish history for Sister Wake, the first book of his first fantasy series for adults. Much of the action of Sister Wake takes place place on an island called Croí, whose people have been under the thumb of a nearby empire called The Answering. The Answering has spent three hundred years trying to eradicate Croí culture and beliefs. But when the book opens, that control is slipping, helped by the fact that the actual gods that the Croí people believe in have returned to walk the land.
The narrative of Sister Wake revolves around three characters. The titular character, Sister Wake who survived an attempted sacrifice but ended up being bound to a god of death called the Cailleach. As a result, she can both see into the minds of creatures as they die but also control them after death. Sister Wake travels with the armies of the rebellion, supporting them in their efforts to oust The Answering. Abelard Caudefoy is the fourth son of an Answering noble. He takes himself to Croí where he sees the war between the soldiers of the Answering and the gods of the Croí firsthand. And finally, Talasa, the princess, daughter of the foreign queen of the Answering, at a time where the king has disappeared. Talasa tries her hand at political manoeuvring only to find secrets that might better have been left uncovered.
Sister Wake is compelling grimdark fantasy that draws heavily on the Irish experience of repression, maintenance of culture and revolt. The characters are rich and nuanced and the action is bloody but compulsive. While plenty happens, very little is resolved by the end of this book but the table has been well set for a fascinating series to follow.
Sister Wake bvy Dave Rudden
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